Customer Reviews

Court of the Stone Children

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My son brought this book home from the school library and while he enjoyed it, I was completely hooked. As I kid I loved books that gave me places to wander around and get lost in--The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwiler comes to mind. This museum is much smaller, but gives readers a glimpse into what running a museum is like, and the magical atmosphere that can be created amid all the bits and pieces of the past. In this case, the "magic" is more than atmospheric, and the characters are an eclectic mix. After the book went back to the library, I ordered a copy for myself.

This is one of the best children's books I have ever read. It has an intriguing plot and marvelous atmosphere. Above all, it has believable characters that are easy to identify with. The main character, Nina, is struggling to adjust to her family's move from the country to the city, and this struggle leads to her meeting with other, memorable characters involved in struggles of their own. The ghost story and the struggles with the nature of time add wonderfully to make the book a unique, timeless read

I read this book over and over again starting at age 10 when I first discovered it. There was something magical and intriguing about the story of a girl who comes across a ghost in a museum, and then learns about her past (so different from today) over the course of several meetings. There is a mysterious quality to the book, and always the feeling that something this magical might happen to any child at the right time in the right place. This is one of the stories I most strongly remember falling in love with as a child-- some 30 years later, it still sticks with me.

I first read this book 20 years ago as a young girl, and I loved it so much I kept it for years and read it over and over again. It made me love museums and antiques and anything from yesteryear. To this day, I can't help wondering about the history of any beautiful old things I come across and secretly hoping for a little enchantment to envelope me when I touch them. And all because of my favourite story of a girl, a museum, a statue and a ghost.

I first read this book when I was about 12 or 13 years old. I found it to be a beautiful and mysterious book with just enough strangeness to make me want to read it again and again. Well when I got older I found a used copy and decided I didn't want to be without it because it impacted me like few books had, and as a kid I read alot! It will give you an imagination if you don't have one, and if you do have one, it'll fire it up all the more. I love it. I still pull it out and read it on occassion, usually in one sitting. The 'person' who gave it a one star rating is probably used to Ren & Stimpy...

This book is one I return to every year or two, and I'm always enchanted by Eleanor Cameron's artistic, finely-tuned prose. The story is well thought out and told with sensitivity and depth. It is definitely one of the most treasured books in my collection.

This book is about Nina Harmsworth and Dominique de Lombre who meet each other in a museum. There is something about Dominique that draws her back there day after day. They become friends and Nina looks back into time, to prove that Domi's father was not a traitor, but an innocent man.

I read this book so many times as a child the cover fell off. The main character is a girl who loves museums and is dealing with a new school. She volunteers at a museum that is based on the De Young museum in Golden Gate Park, SF. She meets a ghost there, and helps her to unravel a mystery. Beautiful writing, one of my all time favorites. If you like books such as the Narnia series or the Green Knowe books, you will definitely enjoy this book.

This book has a beautiful elegance that is very unique and engrossing. It made me have a feeling of nostalgia--- even though I have not, (and probably never will have) this experience: It made me long for the the timeless feeling of not being busy with endless plans and appointments. It is descriptive; it paints a beuatiful picture for the reader (but then again, that seems to be the character of Nina: Aware of her surroundings). The characters were very real, and one is able to visit each in turn and deeply empathize with them. I would say that the plot builds admirably, though to me at times it seemed a little slow (but maybe that't just me?). However, that is the style of the book; timeless, mysterious, and discriptive. Some things seemed slightly unexplained, however, when I reached the ending...I would conclude that this book would appeal to people who see disdinguishments in characters; a book for people who enjoy life, and who see and experience its many beauties. A good book? Yes, very much so!

I wish I could give this 4 and a half stars, because I rarely give out 5 stars. I recently reread this book after 25 years and I still love it. Eleanor Cameron understands how kids see the world: part magic, part mystery and sometimes just plain hard to live in. I recommend her Julia Redfern books, especially "A Room Made of Windows."

For adults interested in children's literature and writing, I strongly recommend her collection of essays "The Green and Burning Tree, On the Writing and Enjoyment of Children's Books". Her chapters on fantasy and her extensive bibliography are excellent.